arnold



(No Model.)

D. J. ARNOLD. GALVANIC BATTERY.

Patented May 21 1889.

6MM/limosna UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DON J. ARNOLD, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HABLAN B.OORYELL, OF SAME PLACE.

GALVAN IC BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,868, dated May 21,1889.

Application led January 25, 1889- Serial No. 297,527. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, DON J. ARNOLD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Galvanic Batteries; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved construction of dry galvanicbatteries, whereby the freezing of the battery and the escape of thegases generated are prevented.

Within the zinc-cup I arrange a plurality of round carbons, which arebunched together, thereby increasing the operative surface of the carbonover those cases where a single carbon of corresponding size isemployed. The space between the carbons and the zinccup is then lledwith a non-freezing gasfgenerating composition composed of litharge,chloride of zinc, muriate of ammonia, oxide of mercury, and abody-former composed of either hydraulic cement or plasterof-paris-These several ingredients are mixed together in a semi-huid state withwater. IVhen this composition has become hardened, the battery is sealedwith asphaltum or mineral pitch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a vertical section ofa galvanic battery constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2represents a transverse section thereof on the line a. a of Fig. l.

l represents a zinc-cup, which may be of any ordinary construction.

2 represents the carbon, which I prefer to construct of aplurality--usually four-of round carbons, each about half an inch thick,and bunched together, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby greatercontact-surface is secured for the carbon than where a single carbon ofequal diameter is employed. These carbons 2 are at their upper endsclamped together by an inclosingclamp, 3, to which is attached ametallic strip, 4, with which the contact pin or post 5 is connected.

6 represents another metallic strip attached to the zinc-cup to receivethe other contact post or pin, 7.

In lieu of lilling the zinc-cup with a fluid or semi-fluidcurrent-excitant, which is liable in cold weather to freeze, I fill thespace within the zinc-cup with a current-generating composition, 8,composed of litharge, chloride of zinc, muriate of ammonia, oxide ofmercury, and a body-former consisting of either hydraulic cement orplaster-of-paris. These ingredients are intimately mixed together by theaid of a sufficient quantity of Water to 6o bring the composition to asemi-Huid state. When so mixed, the composition is poured into the cup,so as to iill the space therein between t-he carbon and the zinc of thecup. Vhen the composition has become hardened, 65 which will occur indue course owing to the presence of the cement or plaster-of-paris, Ithen seal it up with asphaltum or mineral pitch, in order to prevent thegases escaping from the cup-filling. 9 represents the sealing 7o ofasphaltum or mineral pitch.

IVhile the respective proportions of the sev eral ingredients may bevaried in practice without departing from my invention, which consistsin the employment of the ingredients named in combination and in sealingthem within a jar in a dry and solid state, as described, I have foundthe following proportions very effective, viz: litharge, one part;chloride of zinc, two parts; muriate of am- 8o monia, three parts; oxideof mercury, one part; hydraulic cement or plaster-of-paris, six parts;water, four parts.

By thus forming a dry battery it can be used in all tempera-tureswithout danger of freezing in the coldest Weather. It can be roughlyhandled, shaken and thrown around, or packed in any position andtransported without danger of spilling or losing any portion of theexcitants, and batteries of this con- 9o struction can be manufacturedcomplete and ready for use and transported to destination and placed onsale in condition for immediate use.

Other advantages secured by my construction are that this battery longerretains its effectiveness and is longer-lived than fluid or semi-fluidbatteries, and is not subject to atmospheric ,influences or todeterioration by exposure. `roo ing of litharge, chloride of zinc,inuriate of ammonia, oxide of mercury, and a cement, as plaster-of-parisor hydraulic cement, a plurality of round carbons, a clamp inclosing andbinding the upper ends of said carbons together, contact-posts, and asealing-cap of asphaltum or mineral pitch.

3. A galvanic battery consisting of a jar, a

plurality of round carbons contained therein, a clamp` inclosing andbinding said carbons together, contact posts connected, respectyively,to said carbon-,clamp and jar, a solid filling surrounding said carbonsand iilling the spaces between the saine and the jar, and a sealing capor cover, whereby the battery is rendered incapable of being affected byatmospheric iniiuences and can be readily transported from place toplace Without injury to or displacement of t-he current-excitingfilling. In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

DON J.l ARNOLD.

Witnesses:

H. B. IREY, H. B. CORYELL.

